Karl wallwger



(No Model.)

K. WALLINGBR.

BRACELET CLASP.

No. 354,278. Patented Dee'. 14, 1886.

N. PETERS. Pham-ummm. washing n. c.

WIT/VESSES side of the tubes F.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL VALLING-ER, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

BRACELET-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 110.354,278, dated December 14, 1886.

Application filed February 1, 1856. Sirial No.190.523. (No model.)

To all whom, if; may concern: Be it known that I, KARL XVALLINGER, o

New York, in the county and State of New.

York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bracelet-Olasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a new clasp or fastening for bracelets, such as are usually made in chain or flexible form, whereby the bracelet can be' readily adjusted to the arm and secured by the disengaged hand of the wearer.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved clasp with the lids or covers closed. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the same with the lids open. Fig. 3is a transverse section .on the line xx of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents one of the hinge-pivot springs separately, and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view showing a inodifleation in the manner of fastening the bracelet end in 'the clasp.

Similar letters of reference ,indicate like parts.

A is a bottom plate of thin metal, having upwardlyturned longitudinal'side flanges, B. To the inner sides ot' said flanges are seA cured leaf-springs O. The free ends Dof said springs are turned inwardly. The other extremities of said springs are soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the inner sides of the iianges B. The inwardly-turned ends D engage with opposite edges of the bracelet l?. At the middle portion of the upper sides of the flanges B are short outwardly-projecting flanges, E. Beneath the fiangesE are secured tubes F, which receive the hinge-pivots J.

Two lids or covers, G H, are provided each with a tubular portion, I, which portions,when the lids are in place, become situated on each The hinge-pivots J pass through said tubular portions l and F, thus completing the hinge-connection between the lids G H and the flanges B. Each hinge-pivot J has its outer extremities, K L, bent at relatively right angles, as shown in Fig. 5. By reason of the bearing of their extremities K L upon lianges B and lids Gand H said hingepivots act as springs to open the lids G H.

On the upper side of the lid G is a projection, M, and on the lid H is a recess or cavity, N, adapted to receive said projection. Vhen the lids are closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,

the projection M enters and tightly binds in u 'draw the sides of the device together, so that' their resiliency keeps the projection against the side of the recess. \Vhen it is desired to open the lids,pressure is applied by the thumb i and finger to the outer edges ot' iianges E. This moves the sides of the clasp slightly inward and causes the lid H to rise, so withdrawing the cavity from the projection sufficiently to enable the spring-pivots .I to operate to throw open the lids into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It will also be noted that the lid G is wider than the lid H, but that the latter has an upper portion, H, in which is the cavity N, projecting over thelid G.

One end, O, of the bracelet P (dotted lines, Figs. 3 and 4) is rigidly secured upon thebott'om plate, A, and between the flanges B. To facilitate this a solid portion, Q, may be secured` to said end O, and said solid piece Q may be soldered, for example, to plate A. The opposite or free end B of the bracelet is secured to a bar, S, which may move freely upon the bottom plate, A, and between the flanges B. The edges of the bracelet, which is here shown composed of line chain-links, are engaged by the inwardly-turncd ends D of the springs G in any desired position. It is necessary simply to place the bar S between these springs and close down thc lids, all of which is easily done with one hand while the bracelet is on the opposite arm of the wearer, to cause the free end to be securely fastened in place. Said end cannot become free from the clasp, first, because the edges of the bracelet are engaged as described, and, second, because in any event the bar S cannot be drawn out between the inwardly-turned ends of the springs C.

While I prefer to use the springs C and to secure the bracelet end by this means, I do not intend to limit myself to a construction of my clasp necessarily containing said springs.

IOO

I may omit them altogether, as shown in Fig. 6, and provide simply a point, T, upon the bottom plate, A, which will enter the interstices of the bracelet when the end thereof is inserted in the clasp, and from which said end cannot escape when the lids are closed down.

I claim as my inventionl. A bracelet clasp containing a bottom plate, longitudinal upwardlyturned anges thereon, two lids or covers, each hinged to one of said flanges, springs adapted to open said lids, and a catch (such as aproj ection on one lid and a cavity inthe other) for detachably holding said lids in a closed position, in combination with a bracelet or band having one end secured to said clasp, and a clamp or catch, substantially as described, for detachabl y securing the free end of said bracelet to said clasp, substantially as set forth.

2. A braceletclasp containing a bottom plate, A, having lianges B, two lids or covers, G and H H', hinged to said flanges, side projecting flanges, E, spring hinge-pivots J, and a catch (such as a projection on one lid and a cavity in the other) for detachably holding said lids in a closed position, `in combination with a bracelet or band having one end se for detachably holding said lids in a closedv position, and the leaf-springs C, having in- Wardly-turned ends D, in combination With a bracelet having one end secured to said clasp and the other end adapted to be received in said clasp and between said ends D, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a clasp, of the bottom plate, A, having flanges B, the lids G and H H', respectively hinged to said iianges', projection M on lid G, and cavity N in lid H H', sdewise-projecting flanges E, spring hingepivots J, and leaf-springs C, having inwardlybent ends D, substantially as described.

KARL XVALLINGER. Vitnesses:

M. SPIER, MARoUs MARX. 

